N.Y. Estates, Powers & Trusts Law Section 11-1.5
Payment of testamentary dispositions or distributive shares

§ 11-1.5 Payment of testamentary dispositions or distributive shares (a) Subject to his or her duty to retain sufficient assets to pay administration and reasonable funeral expenses, debts of the decedent and all taxes for which the estate is liable, a personal representative may, but, except as directed by will or court decree or order, shall not be required to, pay any testamentary disposition or distributive share before the completion of the publication of notice to creditors or, if no such notice is published, before the expiration of seven months from the time letters testamentary or of administration are granted, or, if notice of the availability of genetic material of the decedent has been given under section 4-1.3, before the birth of a genetic child who is entitled to inherit from the decedent under section 4-1.3.

(b)

Whenever a disposition is directed by will to be paid in advance of such publication of notice or the expiration of such seven month period or the birth of a genetic child entitled to inherit from the decedent under section 4-1.3, the personal representative may require a bond, conditioned as follows:

(1)

That if debts of the decedent appear, and the assets of the estate are insufficient to pay them or to pay other testamentary dispositions entitled, under section 13-1.3, to payment equally with or prior to that of the disposition paid in advance, the beneficiary to whom advance payment was made will refund it, or the value thereof, together with interest thereon and any costs incurred by reason of such payment, or such ratable portion thereof, as is necessary to pay such debts or to satisfy the rights, if any, of other beneficiaries under the will.

(2)

That if the will, under which the disposition was paid, is denied probate, on appeal or otherwise, such beneficiary will refund the entire advance payment, together with interest and costs as described in subparagraph (1), to the personal representative entitled thereto.

(c)

If, after the expiration of seven months from the time letters are granted or the birth of a genetic child entitled to inherit from the decedent under section 4-1.3, as the case may be, the personal representative refuses upon demand to pay a disposition or distributive share, the person entitled thereto may maintain an appropriate action or proceeding against such representative. But, for the purpose of computing the time limited for its commencement, the cause of action does not accrue until the personal representative’s account is judicially settled.

Source: Section 11-1.5 — Payment of testamentary dispositions or distributive shares, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/EPT/11-1.­5 (updated Dec. 26, 2014; accessed Nov. 15, 2025).

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Nov. 15, 2025

Last modified:
Dec. 26, 2014

§ 11-1.5. Payment of testamentary dispositions or distributive shares's source at nysenate​.gov

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